Inbred corn line MDS2713

ABSTRACT

An inbred corn line, designated MDS2713, is disclosed. The disclosure relates to the seeds of inbred corn line MDS2713, to the plants of inbred corn line MDS2713 and to methods for producing a corn plant, either inbred or hybrid, by crossing the inbred line MDS2713 with itself or with another corn line. The disclosure further relates to methods for producing other inbred corn lines derived from the inbred MDS2713.

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. ProvisionalApplication Ser. No. 62/800,889, filed Feb. 4, 2019, the entire contentsof which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates the field of corn breeding, in particularto a new and distinctive corn inbred line, designated MDS2713.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

A major objective of commercial maize production is to produce highyielding, agronomically sound hybrid plants that perform well inselected growing regions. To produce these types of hybrids, inbreds maybe developed which carry desired traits into the hybrid combination.Typically, hybrids are not uniformly adapted for all growing regions,but instead are specifically adapted for particular combinations ofgrowing conditions associated with different growing regions. Forexample, Northern regions of the Corn Belt of the U.S. require shorterseason hybrids than do southern regions of the Corn Belt. Hybrids thatgrow well in Colorado and Nebraska soils may not flourish in richIllinois soil. Thus, a variety of major agronomic traits are selected tocustomize each hybrid combination for each particular growing region,and these selected agronomic traits impact hybrid performance.

Maize breeders select for a variety of inbred traits that impact theperformance of a hybrid derived from the parental inbred. Selectedinbred traits include: yield potential in hybrid combination; dry down;maturity; grain moisture at harvest; greensnap; resistance to rootlodging; resistance to stalk lodging; grain quality; disease and insectresistance; ear and plant height; performance in different soil types,such as low organic matter content, clay, sand, black, high pH, low pH;and performance in wet environments, drought environments, and notillage conditions. These inbred traits are thought to be governed by acomplex genetic system that makes selection and breeding of a desiredinbred line challenging. Even if an inbred line in hybrid combinationexhibits excellent yield (a desired characteristic), this hybridcombination may still be less useful if the inbred lacks other parentaltraits such as deed yield, seed size, pollen production, good silks,plant height, and the like.

One challenging task associated with the development of an inbred lineis the identification of individual plants that are geneticallysuperior, because for many traits the true genotypic value is typicallymasked by other confounding plant traits or environmental factors. Onemethod of identifying a superior individual plant is to observe itsperformance relative to other experimental plants and relative to widelygrown standard cultivars. If a single observation is inconclusive,replicated observations provide a better estimate of a candidate inbredline's genetic worth.

Over time, methods of inbred line development and hybrid testing havebeen refined as a means to enhance hybrid performance in commercialmaize production. Inbred development is typically accomplished usingpedigree selection methods. Pedigree selection, as used herein, refersto selection within an F2 population produced from a planned cross oftwo breeder-selected genotypes, including elite inbred lines, progeny ofsynthetic varieties, open pollinated, composite, or backcrosspopulations. Pedigree selection is known to be effective for highlyheritable traits, but for less heritable traits such as yield,replicated test crosses at a variety of stages may ensure accurateselection.

Pedigree breeding starts with the crossing of two genotypes, each ofwhich may have one or more desired characteristics that may be eitherlacking in the other genotype or that may complement the other genotype.If the original parental genotypes do not provide all of the desiredcharacteristics, other genetic sources can be included in the breedingpopulation. In the pedigree method, superior plants are selfed andselected in successive generations. Over each successive generation, theheterozygous genotypic condition gives way to homogeneous lines as aresult of repeated generations of self-pollination and selection.Typically, at least five or more generations of selfing and selectionare performed in the pedigree breeding method: F1→F2; F2→F3; F3→F4;F4→F5, and so on.

Backcrossing may also be used to improve an inbred line. Backcrossingtransfers a specific desirable trait from one inbred or source to aninbred that lacks that trait. For example, backcrossing may beaccomplished by first crossing a superior inbred (recurrent parent) to adonor inbred (non-recurrent parent) that carries the appropriate gene(s)for the trait in question. The progeny of this cross is then mated backto the superior inbred (recurrent parent) followed by selection withinthe resultant progeny for the desired trait transferred from thenon-recurrent parent. After five or more backcross generations withselection for this desired trait, the resulting progeny are heterozygousfor loci controlling the transferred characteristic, yet still resemblethe superior parent for almost all other genes. The final backcrossgeneration is typically selfed to produce pure breeding progeny for thecharacteristic being transferred.

Once the inbreds associated with the best hybrid performance have beenidentified using one or more of the methods described above, the hybridseed can be reproduced indefinitely as long as the homogeneity of theinbred parent is maintained. A single-cross hybrid is produced bycrossing two inbred lines to produce the first generation (F1) progeny.A double-cross hybrid is produced by crossing four inbred lines in pairs(A×B and C×D) followed by a crossing of the resulting F1 hybrids(A×B)×(C×D). Typically, much of the hybrid vigor exhibited by F1 hybridsis lost in the next generation (F2). Consequently, seeds harvested fromhybrid variety crops are not typically used for planting stock.

Hybrid corn seed is typically produced by a male sterility systemincorporating manual or mechanical detasseling. Alternate strips of twocorn inbreds are planted in a field, and the pollen-bearing tassels areremoved from one of the inbreds (female). Providing that there issufficient isolation from sources of foreign corn pollen, the ears ofthe detasseled inbred will be fertilized only from the other inbred(male), and the resulting seed is therefore hybrid and will form hybridplants.

The laborious, and occasionally unreliable, detasseling process can beavoided by using cytoplasmic male-sterile (CMS) inbreds. Plants of a CMSinbred are male sterile as a result of factors resulting from thecytoplasmic, as opposed to the nuclear, genome. Thus, thischaracteristic is inherited exclusively through the female parent incorn plants, since only the female provides cytoplasm to the fertilizedseed. CMS plants are fertilized with pollen from another inbred that isnot male-sterile. Pollen from the second inbred may or may notcontribute genes that make the hybrid plants male-fertile. Seed fromdetasseled fertile corn and CMS-produced seed of the same hybrid can beblended to insure that adequate pollen loads are available forfertilization when the hybrid plants are grown.

There are several methods of conferring genetic male sterilityavailable, such as multiple mutant genes at separate locations withinthe genome that confer male sterility, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.4,654,465 and 4,727,219 and chromosomal translocations as described inU.S. Pat. Nos. 3,861,709 and 3,710,511, wherein the content of each isincorporated by reference in its entirety. In addition to these methods,U.S. Pat. No. 5,432,068, the contents of which are incorporated byreference in its entirety, describes a system of nuclear male sterilitywhich includes: identifying a gene which is critical to male fertility,silencing this native gene which is critical to male fertility; removingthe native promoter from the essential male fertility gene and replacingit with an inducible promoter; inserting this genetically engineeredgene back into the plant; and thus creating a plant that is male sterilebecause the inducible promoter is not “on” resulting in the malefertility gene not being transcribed. Fertility is restored by inducing,or turning “on”, the promoter, which in turn allows the gene thatconfers male fertility to be transcribed.

Additional methods of conferring genetic male sterility are known in theart, each with associated benefits and drawbacks. These additionalmethods use a variety of approaches, such as delivering into the plant agene encoding a cytotoxic substance associated with a male tissuespecific promoter or an anti-sense system in which a gene critical tofertility is identified and an antisense to that gene is inserted in theplant, as described in PCT Published Application No. WO90/08828, thecontent of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Another method of imparting male sterility makes use of gametocidesadministered to the plants using a topical application of chemicals.These chemicals affect cells that are critical to male fertility, andimpact fertility in the plants only for the growing season in which thegametocide is applied, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,904, thecontent of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.Application of the gametocide, timing of the application and genotypespecificity of the gametocide may influence the usefulness of thisapproach.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, seed of corn inbred line designated MDS2713,representative seed of the line having been deposited under ATCCAccession No. PTA-127082, is provided. Applicant has made a deposit oftissue of seed of corn inbred line designated MDS2713 with the AmericanType Culture Collection (ATCC), 10801 University Boulevard, Manassas,Va. 20110 USA, as ATCC Accession No. PTA-127082. The deposit was madeand accepted under the Budapest Treaty. Access to this deposit will beavailable during the pendency of the application to the Commissioner ofPatents and Trademarks and persons determined by the Commissioner to beentitled thereto upon request. Upon issuance of any claims in theapplication, the deposited tissue will be irrevocably and withoutrestriction released to the public upon the issuance of a patent, andwill be publicly available for the enforceable life of the patent, andthat evidence of a test of the viability of the biological material willbe provided at the time of deposit. This deposit of corn inbred linedesignated MDS2713 will be maintained in the ATCC depository, which is apublic depository, for a period of 30 years, or 5 years after the mostrecent request, or for the enforceable life of the patent, whichever islonger, and will be replaced if it becomes nonviable during that period.Additionally, Applicant has or will satisfy all the requirements of 37C.F.R. §§ 1.801-1.809, including providing an indication of theviability of the sample upon deposit.

In another aspect, a method of producing a hybrid corn seed is provided.The method includes: (a) planting, in pollinating proximity, seeds ofcorn inbred lines MDS2713 and another inbred line; (b) inducing a lackof pollen production by plants of one of the corn inbred lines; (c)allowing natural cross-pollinating to occur between the plants of thecorn inbred lines; and (d) harvesting the hybrid corn seed produced oncross-pollinated plants of the corn inbred lines.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Inbred corn line MDS2713 is a dent corn with superior characteristicsresulting in increased yield and corn agronomics. MDS2713 furtherprovides an excellent parental line for production of first generation(F1) hybrid corn. MDS2713 has a distinct kernel color and texture ascompared to other “yellow dent” inbred corn varieties.

Yield and other data, provided below, demonstrate the effectiveness ofthe disclosed MDS2713 inbred corn line. At the time of MDS2713development, the yield data showed an increase of around 5-10bushels/acre over similar inbred lines within that maturity range.MDS2713 has also been shown to be effective at providing good grainquality and durability in tough conditions, and a high test weight,indicating suitability for utilization of MDS2713 hybrids in theproduction of food-grade products.

${{Heat}\mspace{14mu}{Units}} = {\frac{\left\lbrack {{{Max}.\mspace{14mu}{Temp}.\mspace{14mu}\left( {\leq 86{^\circ}\mspace{11mu}{F.}} \right)} + {{Min}.\mspace{14mu}{Temp}.\mspace{14mu}\left( {\geq 50{^\circ}\mspace{14mu}{F.}} \right)}} \right.}{2} - 50}$

MDS2713 can be used in hybrid development for hybrids ranging between106-118RM, corresponding to roughly Northern Illinois to Mexico andColorado to the Eastern Seaboard. The agronomics and health of MDS2713have been shown to be beneficial for the farmer looking for a hybridwith good grain quality and durability in tough conditions.

Standard pedigree ear-row selection method was used to develop theMDS2713 inbred line using two existing seed lines: 2369 and PHG39.Detasselled 2369 corn plants were crossed with PHG39 plants, anddetasselled F1 plants were again crossed with PHG39 plants, and theresulting F2 seeds from the F1 plants were grown and subjected toselfing and selection for at least eight generations in the developmentof MDS2713. In this aspect, the background of the disclosed MDS2713inbred line is (2369/PHG39*2). The selection criteria used during thedevelopment of MDS2713 were: grain yield; high plant density tolerance,good stand establishment, silking and pollen shedding ability, stalk androot strength, stay green appearance during senescence, seed quality anddisease tolerance.

A comparison between characteristics of MDS2713 and the parent inbredlines, 2369 and PHG39, is shown in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Traits of MDS2713, 2369, and PHG39 MDS2713 2369 PHG39 Bestadapted for: Unavailable Most regions Most regions Type: Yellow DentYellow Dent Yellow Dent Days from Unavailable  68  79 Emergence to 50%of plants in silk: Heat unit silk: 1698 1397 1575${{Heat}\mspace{14mu}{Units}} = {\frac{\left\lbrack {{{Max}.\mspace{14mu}{Temp}\;.\mspace{11mu}\left( {\leq {86{^\circ}\mspace{14mu}{F.}}} \right)} + {{Min}.\mspace{14mu}{Temp}\;.\mspace{11mu}\left( {\geq {50{^\circ}\mspace{14mu}{F.}}} \right)}} \right.}{2} - 50}$Plant Plant height (to  198 cm 212 cm 253 cm tassel tip): Ear height (tobase 21.5 cm  76 cm  96 cm of top ear): Length of top ear   13 cm  10 cm 6 cm internode: Number of ears per Two-ear tendency Single Singlestalk: Number of tillers: None None None Leaf Leaf Color: Green-YellowDark Green Dark Green (7.5GY 3/4) (B14) (B14) Angle from stalk: 10°-49° <30°  <30° Marginal waves:   2.56^(a) None (HY) None (HY) Number ofleaves   5  17  19 (mature plants): Sheath Pubescence:   1.08^(a) Light(W22) Light (W22) Longitudinal Creases:   2^(a) Few (OH56A) Few (OH56A)Length (ear node   78 cm  74 cm  91 cm leaf): Width (widest point   4 cm 9 cm  10 cm of ear node leaf): Tassel Number of lateral   2.5   7   8branches: Branch angle from  2°-57°  <30°  >45° central spike: Pendunclelength   48 cm N/A  25 cm (top leaf to basal branch): Pollen shed:  3.48^(b) Medium Heavy (KY21) Anther color: Yellow Pink Greenishyellow, secondary Glume color: Green-Yellow Green with Pale yellow redstrip green, secondary Ear Length:   18 cm  18 cm  18 cm Weight:  145 gm130 gm  78 gm Mid-point diameter:   34 mm  42 mm  34 mm Silk color:Green-Yellow Pink Green Fresh husk color: Green-Yellow Dark green Darkgreen Dry husk color: Yellow Buff Pale brownish pink Shank length:   12cm  10 cm  13 cm Shank (no. of Unavailable   5   6 internodes): Taper ofear:   2^(c) Slight Slight Number of kernel  14  16  12 rows: Husk leaf:Unavailable Short (<8 cm) Long (>15 cm) Husk extension: Medium (<8 cm)Medium (barely Long (8-10 cm covering ear) beyond ear tip) Position atdry husk Upright Upright Upright phase: Dried Kernel Size (from earmidpoint) Length:  9.5 mm  10 mm  9 mm Width:  7.5 mm  7 mm  8 mmThickness:   6 mm  4 mm  7 mm Shape grade (%  42 20-40 20-40 rounds):Pericarp color: Unavailable Colorless Translucent white Aleurone color:Yellow Homozygous, Homozygous, White opaque white Endosperm color:Yellow-red Yellow Deep orange yellow Endosperm type: Normal starchNormal starch Normal starch Weight per 100   30 g  26 g  29 g seeds: CobDiameter at 18.5 mm  25 mm  22 mm midpoint: Strength: Unavailable StrongStrong Color: Yellow Red White Disease Resistance Northern LeafUnavailable Resistant Susceptible Blight: Southern Leaf UnavailableResistant Tolerant Blight: Corn Smut Unavailable Resistant Tolerant(common) Stalk Rot (Diplodia) Unavailable Not tested Tolerant SouthernRust Unavailable Not tested Susceptible Stalk Rot Unavailable Not testedTolerant (Fusarium) Maize Dwarf Unavailable Not tested SusceptibleMosaic Stalk Rot Unavailable Not tested Tolerant (Gibberella) Smut (HeadSmut) Unavailable Not tested Tolerant Bacterial Wilt Unavailable Nottested Susceptible (Stewart's) Insect Resistance European CornborerUnavailable Resistant Susceptible Earworm Unavailable UnavailableSusceptible Rootworm Unavailable Unavailable Susceptible (Western) AphidUnavailable Unavailable Susceptible ^(a)1 (none)-9 (many) ^(b)0 (MaleSterile)-9 (Heavy Shed) ^(c)1 (Slight Taper), 2 (Average Taper), 3(Extreme Taper)

The 2369 inbred line most closely resembles the B73 inbred line. Theleaf color of the 2369 inbred line is darker green as compared to theB73 inbred line. The ear of the 2369 inbred line is 18 cm long and 74 cmwide at the midpoint, as compared to corresponding dimensions of 18 cmand 42 cm for the ear of the B73 inbred line. The ear of the 2369 inbredline has 16 kernel rows as compared to 18 kernel rows for the ear of theB73 inbred line. Further, the 2369 inbred line attained maximum pollen12 heat units before the B73 inbred line, and attained mid-silk 62 heatunits prior to the B73 inbred line. Yield for the 2369 inbred line is 18bushels higher, 3.1 moisture points dryer, and had a 0.6 better stalkrating and 0.5 better root rating as compared to the B73 inbred line.

The PHG39 inbred line most closely resembles the B73 inbred line. Theplant height of the PHG39 inbred line is 253 cm as compared to the 251cm plant height of the B73 inbred line. The ear of the PHG39 inbred lineis 14 cm lower-eared as compared to the B73 inbred line. The ear of thePHG39 inbred line has indistinct kernel rows as compared to thestraight, distinct kernel rows of the B73 inbred line. The ear of thePHG39 inbred line is 18 cm long and 34 cm wide at the midpoint, ascompared to corresponding dimensions of 15 cm and 42 cm for the ear ofthe B73 inbred line.

This disclosure is also directed to methods for producing a corn plantby crossing a first parent corn plant with a second parent corn plant,wherein the first or second corn plant is the inbred corn plant from theline MDS2713. Further, both first and second parent corn plants may befrom the inbred line MDS2713. Therefore, any methods using the inbredcorn line MDS2713 are part of this disclosure: selfing, backcrosses,hybrid breeding, and crosses to populations. Any plants produced usinginbred corn line MDS2713 as parents are within the scope of thisdisclosure. Advantageously, the inbred corn line MDS2713 is used incrosses with other corn varieties to produce first generation (F1) cornhybrid seed and plants with superior characteristics.

Some of the criteria used to select ears in various generations include:yield, stalk quality, root quality, disease tolerance, late plantgreenness, late season plant intactness, ear retention, pollen sheddingability and silking ability. During the development of the line, crosseswere made to inbred testers for the purpose of estimating the line'sgeneral and specific combining ability. The inbred was evaluated furtheras a line and in numerous crosses by other research stations. The inbredhas proven to have a very good combining ability in hybrid combinations.

The inbred has shown uniformity and stability within the limits ofenvironmental influence for the traits. It has been self-pollinated andear-rowed a sufficient number of generations, with careful attention touniformity of plant type to ensure homozygosity and phenotypic stabilitynecessary to use in commercial production. The line has been increasedboth by hand and sibbed in isolated fields with continued observationsfor uniformity. No variant traits have been observed or are expected inMDS2713.

This disclosure also is directed to methods for producing a corn plantby crossing a first parent corn plant with a second parent corn plantwherein either the first or second parent corn plant is an inbred cornplant of the line MDS2713. Further, both first and second parent cornplants can come from the inbred corn line MDS2713. Still further, thisdisclosure also is directed to methods for producing an inbred corn lineMDS2713-derived corn plant by crossing inbred corn line MDS2713 with asecond corn plant and growing the progeny seed, and repeating thecrossing and growing steps with the inbred corn line MDS2713-derivedplant from 0 to 7 times. Thus, any such methods using the inbred cornline MDS2713 are part of this disclosure: selfing, backcrosses, hybridproduction, crosses to populations, and the like. All plants producedusing inbred corn line MDS2713 as a parent are within the scope of thisdisclosure, including plants derived from inbred corn line MDS2713.Advantageously, the inbred corn line is used in crosses with other,different, corn inbreds to produce first generation (F1) corn hybridseeds and plants with superior characteristics.

It should be understood that the inbred can, through routinemanipulation of cytoplasmic or other factors, be produced in amale-sterile form. Such embodiments are also contemplated within thescope of the present claims.

As used herein, the term plant includes plant cells, plant protoplasts,plant cell tissue cultures from which corn plants can be regenerated,plant calli, plant clumps and plant cells that are intact in plants orparts of plants, such as embryos, pollen, ovules, flowers, kernels,ears, cobs, leaves, husks, stalks, roots, root tips, anthers, silk andthe like. The generation of plant calli from plant parts, and theregeneration of plants from plant calli may make use of any method knownin the art, including, but not limited to, the methods as described inDuncan, et al., Planta 165:322-332 (1985), Songstad, et al., Plant CellReports 7:262-265 (1988), K. P. Rao et al., Maize Genetics CooperationNewsletter, 60:64-65 (1986), and B. V. Conger, et al., Plant CellReports, 6:345-347 (1987), wherein the disclosure of each isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

In an aspect, tissue culture may be used to provide cells which upongrowth and differentiation produce corn plants having the physiologicaland morphological characteristics of inbred corn line MDS2713. Tissueculture of corn may make use of any method known in the art, including,but not limited to, the methods as described in is described in EuropeanPatent Publication No. EP160390, Green and Rhodes, “Plant Regenerationin Tissue Culture of Maize,” Maize for Biological Research (PlantMolecular Biology Association, Charlottesville, Va. 367-372, (1982)) andin Duncan et al., “The Production of Callus Capable of PlantRegeneration from Immature Embryos of Numerous Zea mays Genotypes,” 165Planta 322:332 (1985), wherein the disclosure of each is incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

Corn is used as human food, livestock feed, and as raw material inindustry. The food uses of corn, in addition to human consumption ofcorn kernels, include both products of dry- and wet-milling industries.The principal products of corn dry milling are grits, meal and flour.The corn wet-milling industry can provide corn starch, corn syrups, anddextrose for food use. Corn oil is recovered from corn germ, which is aby-product of both dry- and wet-milling industries.

Other industrial uses of corn include production of ethanol, corn starchin the wet-milling industry and corn flour in the dry-milling industry.The industrial applications of corn starch and flour are based onfunctional properties, such as viscosity, film formation, adhesiveproperties, and ability to suspend particles. The corn starch and flourhave application in the paper and textile industries. Other industrialuses include applications in adhesives, building materials, foundrybinders, laundry starches, explosives, oil-well muds and other miningapplications.

Plant parts other than the grain of corn are also used in industry, forexample: stalks and husks are made into paper and wallboard and cobs areused for fuel and to make charcoal.

In the tables that follow, the traits and characteristics of inbred cornline MDS2713 are given in hybrid combination. The data collected oninbred corn line MDS2713 is presented for the key characteristics andtraits. The tables present yield test information about MDS2713. MDS2713was tested in several hybrid combinations at numerous locations, withseveral replications per location. Information about these hybrids, ascompared to several check hybrids, is presented.

TABLE 2 Traits and characteristics of MDS2713*MBS8731 hybrids. Yield % M% STD % SL % RL TW $/A MDS2713*MBS8731 187.94 18.26 96.41 0.92 5.1556.47 $ 715.45 DKC66-96 204.59 17.68 96.19 1.47 5.10 58.19 $ 787.13 Reps40 | Years 1 | States 11 −16.6 +0.6 +0.2 −0.5 +0.1 −1.7 −$ 71.68MDS2713*MBS8731 208.89 19.38 95.15 0.98 2.87 56.33 $ 778.85 DKC67-72VT2P229.51 18.77 96.59 3.34 1.63 56.80 $ 865.56 Reps 76 | Years 2 | States14 −20.6 +0.6 −1.4 −2.4 +1.2 −0.5 −$ 86.71 MDS2713*MBS8731 202.63 18.6796.79 0.60 3.83 56.41 $ 765.53 GP280*MBS8814GTCBLLRW 214.17 19.81 94.860.58 3.97 57.39 $ 792.12 Reps 61 | Years 2 | States 11 −11.5 −1.1 +1.9+0.0 −0.1 −1.0 −$ 26.59 MDS2713*MBS8731 201.45 19.25 94.17 1.36 3.3956.33 $ 752.86 GP280GTCBLLBL*MBS8814 214.19 20.00 96.85 0.69 5.83 57.24$ 789.24 Reps 54 | Years 1 | States 13 −12.7 −0.7 −2.7 +0.7 −2.4 −0.9 −$36.38 MDS2713*MBS8731 201.66 18.99 95.58 0.96 3.62 56.38 $ 757.36GP286*MBS8814GTCBLLRW 204.59 20.73 92.89 1.23 5.66 56.73 $ 743.42 Reps116 | Years 3 | States 14 −2.9 −1.7 +2.7 −0.3 −2.0 −0.4 +$ 13.94MDS2713*MBS8731 174.29 18.37 97.83 1.81 4.79 55.75 $ 662.19GP570GTCBLL*MBS8731 192.37 16.56 97.42 0.00 7.70 54.93 $ 755.25 Reps 19| Years 1 | States 8 −18.1 +1.8 +0.4 +1.8 −2.9 +0.8 −$ 93.05MDS2713*MBS8731 187.94 18.26 96.41 0.92 5.15 56.47 $ 715.45GP632*GP633GTCBLLRW 203.67 18.45 97.73 0.88 3.64 56.61 $ 772.64 Reps 40| Years 1 | States 11 −15.7 −0.2 −1.3 +0.0 +1.5 −0.1 −$ 57.19MDS2713*MBS8731 227.15 19.68 97.54 0.06 1.62 56.33 $ 842.08GP632GTCBLL*GP633HX4 204.01 19.83 98.21 0.27 0.44 57.08 $ 754.13 Reps 22| Years 1 | States 9 +23.1 −0.2 −0.7 −0.2 +1.2 −0.7 +$ 87.95MDS2713*MBS8731 208.89 19.38 95.15 0.98 2.87 56.33 $ 778.85 PIONEERHYBRID 1637AM 237.46 18.73 96.78 1.02 1.11 58.38 $ 896.17 Reps 76 |Years 2 | States 14 −28.6 +0.7 −1.6 −0.0 +1.8 −2.0 −$ 117.33 MDS2713*MBS8731 203.64 18.87 96.80 0.61 3.90 56.44 $ 766.52 PIONEERHYBRID 2088AM 219.60 18.99 97.45 0.64 7.46 56.96 $ 824.70 Reps 61 |Years 2 | States 11 −16.0 −0.1 −0.7 −0.0 −3.6 −0.5 −$ 58.18

TABLE 3 Traits and characteristics of MDS2713*MBS8814GTCBLLRW hybrids.Yield % M % STD % SL % RL TW $/A MDS2713*MBS8814GTCBLLRW 201.93 20.0296.00 0.46 5.33 56.86 $ 743.89 DKC66-96 208.68 17.93 97.59 1.06 6.5858.67 $ 799.24 Reps 59 | Years 2 | States 12 −6.8 +2.1 −1.6 −0.6 −1.2−1.8 −$ 55.36 MDS2713*MBS8814GTCBLLRW 219.26 20.29 96.00 0.28 2.89 56.77$ 803.55 DKC67-72VT2P 229.88 18.85 96.68 3.25 1.58 56.80 $ 865.65 Reps78 | Years 2 | States 14 −10.6 +1.4 −0.7 −3.0 +1.3 −0.0 −$ 62.10MDS2713*MBS8814GTCBLLRW 210.75 20.23 96.92 0.89 4.23 56.79 $ 773.26GP280*MBS8814GTCBLLRW 215.32 20.03 95.86 0.82 5.21 57.45 $ 792.96 Reps92 | Years 4 | States 12 −4.6 +0.2 +1.1 +0.1 −1.0 −0.7 −$ 19.69MDS2713*MBS8814GTCBLLRW 211.80 20.17 96.00 0.36 3.91 56.81 $ 777.94GP286*MBS8814GTCBLLRW 207.71 20.78 94.10 1.14 6.33 56.89 $ 754.14 Reps137 | Years 4 | States 15 +4.1 −0.6 +1.9 −0.8 −2.4 −0.1 +$ 23.80MDS2713*MBS8814GTCBLLRW 199.28 20.49 92.33 0.53 6.29 56.11 $ 727.55GP570GTCBLL*MBS8731 199.60 16.99 97.28 0.00 8.21 55.20 $ 777.59 Reps 18| Years 1 | States 8 −0.3 +3.5 −4.9 +0.5 −1.9 +0.9 −$ 50.04MDS2713*MBS8814GTCBLLRW 200.96 20.17 94.83 1.46 5.04 56.46 $ 738.21GP632*GP633GTCBLLRW 206.77 18.86 97.96 0.97 2.93 56.69 $ 778.47 Reps 49| Years 2 | States 11 −5.8 +1.3 −3.1 +0.5 +2.1 −0.2 −$ 40.26MDS2713*MBS8814GTCBLLRW 235.10 21.18 98.81 0.16 2.43 56.90 $ 846.87GP632GTCBLL*GP633HX4 201.34 19.87 98.36 0.24 0.40 57.08 $ 743.83 Reps 24| Years 1 | States 9 +33.8 +1.3 +0.4 −0.1 +2.0 −0.2 +$ 103.04 MDS2713*MBS8814GTCBLLRW 203.96 20.45 96.52 1.56 4.76 56.64 $ 745.12MBS3520*MBS8814GTCBLLRW 197.65 17.92 97.36 1.10 6.81 55.84 $ 757.04 Reps47 | Years 3 | States 10 +6.3 +2.5 −0.8 +0.5 −2.1 +0.8 −$ 11.93MDS2713*MBS8814GTCBLLRW 204.15 19.94 99.18 0.50 4.54 57.49 $ 753.19MBS3773*MBS8814GTCBLLRW 200.13 18.86 98.14 0.83 4.66 57.30 $ 753.45 Reps20 | Years 1 | States 9 +4.0 +1.1 +1.0 −0.3 −0.1 +0.2  −$ 0.27MDS2713*MBS8814GTCBLLRW 204.15 19.94 99.18 0.50 4.54 57.49 $ 753.19PIONEER HYBRID 1498HR 201.32 17.51 99.27 0.00 3.58 59.00 $ 777.03 Reps20 | Years 1 | States 9 +2.8 +2.4 −0.1 +0.5 +1.0 −1.5 −$ 23.84MDS2713*MBS8814GTCBLLRW 219.26 20.29 96.00 0.28 2.89 56.77 $ 803.55PIONEER HYBRID 1637AM 236.66 18.78 96.87 1.00 1.08 58.38 $ 892.24 Reps78 | Years 2 | States 14 −17.4 +1.5 −0.9 −0.7 +1.8 −1.6 −$ 88.70MDS2713*MBS8814GTCBLLRW 212.88 20.45 97.07 0.38 4.52 56.89 $ 777.70PIONEER HYBRID 2088AM 219.17 18.95 97.86 0.55 6.70 57.20 $ 823.75 Reps82 | Years 3 | States 12 −6.3 +1.5 −0.8 −0.2 −2.2 −0.3 −$ 46.04

TABLE 4 Traits and characteristics of MDS2713*GP633GTCBLLRW hybrids.Yield % M % STD % SL % RL TW $/A MDS2713*GP633GTCBLLRW 220.43 20.0999.79 6.64 11.43 56.52 $ 810.94 DKC62-97RIB 219.75 17.91 99.79 2.69 1.6256.91 $ 841.91 Reps 28 | Years 1 | States 5 +0.7 +2.2 +0.0 +3.9 +9.8−0.4 −$ 30.97 MDS2713*GP633GTCBLLRW 180.38 18.87 93.77 3.02 12.07 57.78$ 679.03 DKC66-96 183.47 18.21 94.36 3.30 7.68 57.40 $ 699.04 Reps 19 |Years 1 | States 8 −3.1 +0.7 −0.6 −0.3 +4.4 +0.4 −$ 20.01MDS2713*GP633GTCBLLRW 180.60 18.57 93.71 3.02 12.07 57.65 $ 683.54GP280*MBS8814GTCBLLRW 199.56 19.48 94.24 0.62 6.28 56.05 $ 742.65 Reps18 | Years 1 | States 8 −19.0 −0.9 −0.5 +2.4 +5.8 +1.6 −$ 59.11MDS2713*GP633GTCBLLRW 180.38 18.87 93.77 3.02 12.07 57.78 $ 679.03GP286*MBS8814GTCBLLRW 191.84 20.74 89.52 0.00 6.08 56.09 $ 696.94 Reps19 | Years 1 | States 8 −11.5 −1.9 +4.3 +3.0 +6.0 +1.7 −$ 17.91MDS2713*GP633GTCBLLRW 180.38 18.87 93.77 3.02 12.07 57.78 $ 679.03GP570GTCBLL*MBS8731 192.37 16.56 97.42 0.00 7.70 54.93 $ 755.25 Reps 19| Years 1 | States 8 −12.0 +2.3 −3.6 +3.0 +4.4 +2.8 −$ 76.22MDS2713*GP633GTCBLLRW 220.43 20.09 99.79 6.64 11.43 56.52 $ 810.94GP570GTCBLL*MBS8731HX1 238.97 18.81 99.58 4.66 7.74 54.93 $ 900.60 Reps28 | Years 1 | States 5 −18.5 +1.3 +0.2 +2.0 +3.7 +1.6 −$ 89.66MDS2713*GP633GTCBLLRW 180.38 18.87 93.77 3.02 12.07 57.78 $ 679.03GP632*GP633GTCBLLRW 194.68 18.71 97.90 1.89 1.05 55.98 $ 734.99 Reps 19| Years 1 | States 8 −14.3 +0.2 −4.1 +1.1 +11.0 +1.8 −$ 55.97MDS2713*GP633GTCBLLRW 220.43 20.09 99.79 6.64 11.43 56.52 $ 810.94GP709GTCBLLBL*GP633HX1 222.00 17.41 99.76 2.32 2.68 56.94 $ 858.28 Reps28 | Years 1 | States 5 −1.6 +2.7 +0.0 +4.3 +8.8 −0.4 −$ 47.34MDS2713*GP633GTCBLLRW 220.43 20.09 99.79 6.64 11.43 56.52 $ 810.94PIONEER HYBRID 1197AMXT 233.79 17.73 99.68 2.57 1.23 56.24 $ 898.67 Reps28 | Years 1 | States 5 −13.4 +2.4 +0.1 +4.1 +10.2 +0.3 −$ 87.73MDS2713*GP633GTCBLLRW 184.55 19.19 94.64 3.24 12.88 57.83 $ 690.58PIONEER HYBRID 2088AM 207.28 19.40 96.95 0.60 10.23 56.25 $ 772.57 Reps18 | Years 1 | States 8 −22.7 −0.2 −2.3 +2.6 +2.7 +1.6 −$ 81.99

TABLE 5 Traits and characteristics of MDS2713*MBS5411 hybrids. Yield % M% STD % SL % RL TW $/A MDS2713*MBS5411 230.59 20.40 92.70 1.59 0.3956.88 $ 843.24 DKC57-75RIB 214.20 20.31 95.30 2.86 0.39 56.27 $ 784.74Reps 12 | Years 1 | States 4 +16.4 +0.1 −2.6 −1.3 +0.0 +0.6 +$ 58.50MDS2713*MBS5411 230.59 20.40 92.70 1.59 0.39 56.88 $ 843.24MBS3644GTCBLLRW*MBS5411 224.64 19.58 97.01 0.55 0.25 56.39 $ 834.32 Reps12 | Years 1 | States 4 +6.0 +0.8 −4.3 +1.0 +0.1 +0.5  +$ 8.92MDS2713*MBS5411 230.59 20.40 92.70 1.59 0.39 56.88 $ 843.24 PIONEERHYBRID 0506AM 218.65 19.38 94.45 0.26 1.14 57.09 $ 815.18 Reps 12 |Years 1 | States 4 +11.9 +1.0 −1.8 +1.3 −0.7 −0.2 +$ 28.06MDS2713*MBS5411 226.40 19.87 91.23 1.91 0.47 57.58 $ 836.33 PIONEERHYBRID 0825AMXT 248.65 19.38 94.87 1.22 2.73 54.65 $ 927.08 Reps 10 |Years 1 | States 3 −22.3 +0.5 −3.6 +0.7 −2.3 +2.9 −$ 90.74MDS2713*MBS5411 230.59 20.40 92.70 1.59 0.39 56.88 $ 843.24SGI094GTCBLLRWBL*GP614 231.53 20.30 95.73 0.98 0.89 55.29 $ 848.29 Reps12 | Years 1 | States 4 −0.9 +0.1 −3.0 +0.6 −0.5 +1.6  −$ 5.06

The headers of Tables 2-5 are defined as follows. Yield is the bushelsof corn grown per acre in bushels per acre. % M is the moisture contentin percent. % STD is the percent stand in percent. % SL is the stalklodge in percent. % RL is the root lodge in percent. TW is the testweight in pounds per bushel. $/A is the cost to grow per acre in dollarsper acre.

With the advent of molecular biological techniques that have allowed theisolation and characterization of genes that encode specific proteinproducts, scientists in the field of plant biology developed a stronginterest in engineering the genome of plants to contain and expressforeign genes, or additional, or modified versions of native, orendogenous, genes (perhaps driven by different promoters) in order toalter the traits of a plant in a specific manner. Such foreignadditional and/or modified genes are referred to herein collectively as“transgenes”. Over the last fifteen to twenty years several methods forproducing transgenic plants have been developed, and the presentdisclosure, in particular embodiments, also relates to transformedversions of the claimed inbred line.

Plant transformation involves the construction of an expression vectorwhich will function in plant cells. Such a vector comprises DNAcomprising a gene under control of or operatively linked to a regulatoryelement (for example, a promoter). The expression vector may contain oneor more such operably linked gene/regulatory element combinations. Thevector(s) may be in the form of a plasmid, and can be used alone or incombination with other plasmids, to provide transformed corn plants,using transformation methods as described below to incorporatetransgenes into the genetic material of the corn plant(s).

In one aspect, the expression vectors used for plant transformation mayinclude at least one genetic marker, operably linked to a regulatoryelement (a promoter, for example) that allows transformed cellscontaining the marker to be either recovered by negative selection,i.e., inhibiting growth of cells that do not contain the selectablemarker gene, or by positive selection, i.e., screening for the productencoded by the genetic marker. Many commonly used selectable markergenes for plant transformation are well known in the transformationarts, and include, for example, genes that code for enzymes thatmetabolically detoxify a selective chemical agent which may be anantibiotic or a herbicide, or genes that encode an altered target whichis insensitive to the inhibitor. Positive selection methods are alsoknown in the art.

One commonly used selectable marker gene for plant transformation is theneomycin phosphotransferase II (nptII) gene, which when placed under thecontrol of plant regulatory signals confers resistance to kanamycin, asdescribed in Fraley et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 80:4803(1983), the content of which is incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety. Another commonly used selectable marker gene is the hygromycinphosphotransferase gene which confers resistance to the antibiotichygromycin, as described in Vanden Elzen et al., Plant Mol. Biol., 5:299(1985), the content of which is incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety.

Additional selectable marker genes of bacterial origin that conferresistance to antibiotics include gentamycin acetyl transferase,streptomycin phosphotransferase, aminoglycoside-3′-adenyl transferase,the bleomycin resistance determinant, as described in Hayford et al.,Plant Physiol. 86:1216 (1988), Jones et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 210:86(1987), Svab et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 14:197 (1990) and Hille et al.,Plant Mol. Biol. 7:171 (1986), wherein the content of each isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Other selectablemarker genes may include marker genes that confer resistance toherbicides such as glyphosate, glufosinate or broxynil, as described inComai et al., Nature 317:741-744 (1985), Gordon-Kamm et al., Plant Cell2:603-618 (1990) and Stalker et al., Science 242:419-423 (1988), whereinthe content of each is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

Other selectable marker genes that may be included in an expressionvectors used for plant transformation may include, for example, mousedihydrofolate reductase, plant 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphatesynthase and plant acetolactate synthase, as described in Eichholtz etal., Somatic Cell Mol. Genet. 13:67 (1987), Shah et al., Science 233:478(1986), and Charest et al., Plant Cell Rep. 8:643 (1990), wherein thecontent of each is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

Other selectable marker genes that may be included in the expressionvectors used for plant transformation include marker genes that requirescreening of presumptively transformed plant cells rather than directgenetic selection of transformed cells for resistance to a toxicsubstance such as an antibiotic. These genes are particularly useful toquantify or visualize the spatial pattern of expression of a gene inspecific tissues and are frequently referred to as reporter genesbecause they can be fused to a gene or gene regulatory sequence for theinvestigation of gene expression. Commonly used genes for screeningpresumptively transformed cells include β-glucuronidase (GUS,β-galactosidase, luciferase and chloramphenicol, acetyltransferase, asdescribed in Jefferson, R. A., Plant Mol. Biol. Rep. 5:387 (1987), Teeriet al., EMBO J. 8:343 (1989), Koncz et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci U.S.A.84:131 (1987), and DeBlock et al., EMBO J. 3:1681 (1984), wherein thecontent of each is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.Another approach to the identification of relatively rare transformationevents has been use of a gene that encodes a dominant constitutiveregulator of the Zea mays anthocyanin pigmentation pathway, as describedin Ludwig et al., Science 247:449 (1990), the content of which isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

In various aspects, the genes included in expression vectors are enabledby nucleotide sequence comprising a regulatory element, for example, apromoter. Several types of promoters are now well known in thetransformation arts, as are other regulatory elements that can be usedalone or in combination with promoters.

As used herein, “promoter” includes reference to a region of DNAupstream from the start of transcription and involved in recognition andbinding of RNA polymerase and other proteins to initiate transcription.A “plant promoter” is a promoter capable of initiating transcription inplant cells. Examples of promoters under developmental control includepromoters that preferentially initiate transcription in certain tissues,such as leaves, roots, seeds, fibers, xylem vessels, tracheids, orsclerenchyma. Such promoters are referred to as “tissue-preferred”.Promoters which initiate transcription only in certain tissue arereferred to as “tissue-specific”. A “cell type” specific promoterprimarily drives expression in certain cell types in one or more organs,for example, vascular cells in roots or leaves. An “inducible” promoteris a promoter which is under environmental control. Examples ofenvironmental conditions that may affect transcription by induciblepromoters include anaerobic conditions or the presence of light.Tissue-specific, tissue-preferred, cell type specific, and induciblepromoters constitute the class of “non-constitutive” promoters. A“constitutive” promoter is a promoter which is active under mostenvironmental conditions.

An inducible promoter is operably linked to a gene for expression incorn. Optionally, the inducible promoter is operably linked to anucleotide sequence encoding a signal sequence which is operably linkedto a gene for expression in corn. With an inducible promoter the rate oftranscription increases in response to an inducing agent.

Any inducible promoter can be used in the instant disclosure including,but not limited to, the inducible promoters described in Ward et al.,Plant Mol. Biol. 22:361-366 (1993), inducible promoters from the ACEIsystem which responds to copper as described in Meft et al., PNAS90:4567-4571 (1993), the In2 gene from maize which responds tobenzenesulfonamide herbicide safeners as described in Hershey et al.,Mol. Gen Genetics 227:229-237 (1991) and Gatz et al., Mol. Gen. Genetics243:32-38 (1994), the Tet repressor from Tn10, as described in Gatz etal., Mol. Gen. Genetics 227:229-237 (1991), and a promoter from asteroid hormone gene, the transcriptional activity of which is inducedby a glucocorticosteroid hormone as described in Schena et al., Proc.Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 88:0421 (1991), wherein the content of each isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety. In one aspect, theinducible promoter may be a promoter that responds to an inducing agentto which plants do not normally respond.

In various aspects, the genes included in expression vectors may includeconstitutive promoter. The constitutive promoter may be operably linkedto a gene for expression in corn or the constitutive promoter may beoperably linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding a signal sequencewhich is operably linked to a gene for expression in corn.

Many different constitutive promoters can be utilized in the instantdisclosure without limitation. Non-limiting examples of suitableconstitutive promoters include promoters from plant viruses such as the35S promoter from CaMV as described in Odell et al., Nature 313:810-812(1985), promoters from genes as rice actin as described in McElroy etal., Plant Cell 2:163-171 (1990)), the gene ubiquitin as described inChristensen et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 12:619-632 (1989) and inChristensen et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 18:675-689 (1992)), the gene pEMUas described in Last et al., Theor. Appl. Genet. 81:581-588 (1991)), thegene MAS as described in Velten et al., EMBO J. 3:2723-2730 (1984), andthe maize H3 histone as described in Lepetit et al., Mol. Gen. Genetics231:276-285 (1992) and Atanassova et al., Plant Journal 2 (3): 291-300(1992), wherein the content of each is incorporated by reference hereinin its entirety. The ALS promoter, XbaI/NcoI fragment 5′ to the Brassicanapus ALS3 structural gene (or a nucleotide sequence similarity to theXba1/NcoI fragment), represents a useful constitutive promoter, asdescribed in PCT Published Application No. WO96/30530.

In various aspects, the genes included in expression vectors may includetissue-specific promoter. A tissue-specific promoter is operably linkedto a gene for expression in corn. Optionally, the tissue-specificpromoter is operably linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding a signalsequence which is operably linked to a gene for expression in corn.Plants transformed with a gene of interest operably linked to atissue-specific promoter produce the protein product of the transgeneexclusively, or preferentially, in a specific tissue.

Any tissue-specific or tissue-preferred promoter can be utilized in theinstant disclosure without limitation including, but not limited to, aroot-preferred promoter, such as that from the phaseolin gene asdescribed in Murai et al., Science 23:476-482 (1983) and inSengupta-Gopalan et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 82:3320-3324(1985)); a leaf-specific and light-induced promoter such as that fromcab or rubisco as described in Simpson et al., EMBO J. 4(11):2723-2729(1985) and Timko et al., Nature 318:579-582 (1985)); an anther-specificpromoter such as that from LAT52 as described in Twell et al., Mol. Gen.Genetics 217:240-245 (1989)); a pollen-specific promoter such as thatfrom Zm13 as described in Guerrero et al., Mol. Gen. Genetics244:161-168 (1993)); and a microspore-preferred promoter such as thatfrom apg as described in Twell et al., Sex. Plant Reprod. 6:217-224(1993), wherein the content of each is incorporated by reference hereinin its entirety.

In various other aspects, the genes included in expression vectors mayinclude signal sequences for targeting proteins to subcellularcompartments. In these aspects, the transport of protein produced bytransgenes to a subcellular compartment such as the chloroplast,vacuole, peroxisome, glyoxysome, cell wall or mitochondroin or forsecretion into the apoplast, is accomplished by means of operablylinking the nucleotide sequence encoding a signal sequence to the 5′and/or 3′ region of a gene encoding the protein of interest. Targetingsequences at the 5′ and/or 3′ end of the structural gene may determine,during protein synthesis and processing, where the encoded protein isultimately compartmentalized. The presence of a signal sequence in theexpression vector directs a polypeptide to either an intracellularorganelle or subcellular compartment or for secretion to the apoplast.Many signal sequences are known in the art including, but not limitedto, Becker et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 20:49 (1992); Close, P. S., Master'sThesis, Iowa State University (1993); Knox, C., et al., “Structure andOrganization of Two Divergent Alpha-Amylase Genes from Barley”; PlantMol. Biol. 9:3-17 (1987); Lerner et al., Plant Physiol. 91:124-129(1989); Fontes et al., Plant Cell 3:483-496 (1991); Matsuoka et al.,Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 88:834 (1991); Gould et al., J. Cell. Biol.108:1657 (1989); Creissen et al., Plant J. 2:129 (1991); Kalderon, etal., Cell 39:499-509 (1984); and Steifel, et al., Plant Cell 2:785-793(1990), wherein the content of each is incorporated by reference hereinin its entirety.

With transgenic plants according to the present disclosure, a foreignprotein can be produced in commercial quantities. Thus, techniques forthe selection and propagation of transformed plants, which are wellunderstood in the art, yield a plurality of transgenic plants which areharvested in a conventional manner, and a foreign protein then can beextracted from a tissue of interest or from total biomass. Proteinextraction from plant biomass can be accomplished by known methods whichare discussed, for example, by Heney and Orr, Anal. Biochem. 114:92-6(1981), the content of which is incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety.

In other aspects, agronomic genes can be expressed in transformedplants. More particularly, plants can be genetically engineered toexpress various phenotypes of agronomic interest. Exemplary genesimplicated in this regard include, but are not limited to, thosecategorized below.

Plant defenses are often activated by specific interaction between theproduct of a disease resistance gene (R) in the plant and the product ofa corresponding avirulence (Avr) gene in the pathogen. A plant inbredline can be transformed with cloned resistance gene to engineer plantsthat are resistant to specific pathogen strains, as described in Joneset al., Science 266:789 (1994); Martin et al., Science 262:1432 (1993);and Mindrinos et al., Cell 78:1089 (1994), wherein the content of eachis incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

In an aspect, the agronomic gene may include a Bacillus thuringiensisprotein, a derivative thereof or a synthetic polypeptide modeledthereon, as described in Geiser et al., Gene 48:109 (1986), the contentof which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, and DNAmolecules encoding δ-endotoxin genes purchased from American TypeCulture Collection, Manassas, Va., for example, under ATCC AccessionNos. 40098, 67136, 31995 and 31998.

In an aspect, the agronomic gene may include a lectin such as nucleotidesequences of several Clivia miniata mannose-binding lectin genes, asdescribed by Van Damme et al., Plant Molec. Biol. 24:25 (1994), thecontent of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Inan aspect, the agronomic gene may include a vitamin-binding protein suchas avidin as described in PCT Published Application No. WO93/06487, thecontent of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Inan aspect, the agronomic gene may include an enzyme inhibitor, forexample, a protease or proteinase inhibitor or an amylase inhibitor asdescribed in Abe et al., J. Biol. Chem. 262:16793 (1987), Huub et al.,Plant Molec. Biol. 21:985 (1993), and Sumitani et al., Biosci. Biotech.Biochem. 57:1243 (1993), wherein the content of each is incorporated byreference herein in its entirety. In an aspect, the agronomic gene mayinclude an insect-specific hormone or pheromone such as an ecdysteroidand juvenile hormone, a variant thereof, a mimetic based thereon, or anantagonist or agonist thereof, as described in Hammock et al., Nature344:458 (1990), the content of which is incorporated by reference hereinin its entirety. In an aspect, the agronomic gene may include aninsect-specific peptide or neuropeptide which, upon expression, disruptsthe physiology of the affected pest, as described in Regan, J. Biol.Chem. 269:9 (1994), Pratt et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 163:1243(1989), and U.S. Pat. No. 5,266,317, wherein the content of each isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety. In an aspect, theagronomic gene may include an insect-specific venom produced in natureby a snake, a wasp, etc. as described, by way of non-limiting example,in Pang et al., Gene 116:165 (1992), the content of which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety. In an aspect, the agronomicgene may include an enzyme responsible for a hyper accumulation of amonterpene, a sesquiterpene, a steroid, hydroxamic acid, aphenylpropanoid derivative or another non-protein molecule withinsecticidal activity.

In an aspect, the agronomic gene may include an enzyme involved in themodification, including the post-translational modification, of abiologically active molecule; for example, a glycolytic enzyme, aproteolytic enzyme, a lipolytic enzyme, a nuclease, a cyclase, atransaminase, an esterase, a hydrolase, a phosphatase, a kinase, aphosphorylase, a polymerase, an elastase, a chitinase and a glucanase,whether natural or synthetic as described, by way of non-limitingexample, in PCT Published Application No. WO93/02197, the content ofwhich is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. DNA moleculeswhich contain chitinase-encoding sequences can be obtained, for example,from the ATCC under Accession Nos. 39637 and 67152. Other DNA moleculesencoding other biologically active molecules are described in, by way ofnon-limiting examples, Kramer et al., Insect Biochem. Molec. Biol.23:691 (1993) and Kawalleck et al., Plant Molec. Biol. 21:673 (1993),wherein the content of each is incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety.

In an aspect, the agronomic gene may include a molecule that stimulatessignal transduction as described, by way of non-limiting example, inBotella et al., Plant Molec. Biol. 24:757 (1994) and Griess et al.,Plant Physiol. 104:1467 (1994), wherein the content of each isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety. In an aspect, theagronomic gene may include a hydrophobic moment peptide, as described inPCT Published Application Nos. WO95/16776 and WO95/18855, wherein thecontent of each is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

In an aspect, the agronomic gene may include a membrane permease, achannel former or a channel blocker, as is described, by way ofnon-limiting example, in Jaynes et al., Plant Sci 89:43 (1993), thecontent of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Inan aspect, the agronomic gene may include a viral-invasive protein or acomplex toxin derived therefrom. By way of non-limiting example, theagronomic gene may be a viral coat protein imparting resistance to viralinfection and/or disease development effected by the virus from whichthe coat protein gene is derived, as is described in Beachy et al., Ann.rev. Phytopathol. 28:451 (1990), the content of which is incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

In an aspect, the agronomic gene may include an insect-specific antibodyor an immunotoxin derived therefrom. By way of non-limiting example, anantibody targeted to a critical metabolic function in the insect gutwould inactivate an affected enzyme, killing the insect, as described inC. F. Taylor et al., Abstract #497, Seventh Int'l Symposium on MolecularPlant-Microbe Interactions (Edinburgh, Scotland) (1994), the content ofwhich is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. In an aspect,the agronomic gene may include a virus-specific antibody as described,by way of non-limiting example, in Tavladoraki et al., Nature 366:469(1993), the content of which is incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety.

In an aspect, the agronomic gene may include a developmental-arrestiveprotein produced in nature by a pathogen or a parasite. By way ofnon-limiting example. a, fungal endo α-1,4-D-polygalacturonases mayfacilitate fungal colonization and plant nutrient release bysolubilizing plant cell wall homo-α-1,4-D-galacturonase as is describedin Lamb et al., Bio/Technology 10:1436 (1992) and Toubart et al., PlantJ. 2:367 (1992), wherein the content of each is incorporated byreference herein in its entirety. In an aspect, the agronomic gene mayinclude a development-arrestive protein produced in nature by a plant asdescribed, by way of non-limiting example, in Logemann et al.,BioTechnology 10:305 (1992), the content of which is incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

In an aspect, the agronomic gene may include a herbicide that inhibitsthe growing point or meristem, such as an imidazalinone or asulfonylurea. Non-limiting examples. of genes in this category code formutant ALS and AHAS enzyme as described, for example, by Lee et al.,EMBO J. 7:1241 (1988), and Miki et al., Theor. Appl. Genet 80:449(1990), wherein the content of each is incorporated by reference hereinin its entirety.

In an aspect, the agronomic gene may include genes imparting glyphosateresistance including, but not limited to, an EPSP gene which can conferglyphosate resistance as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,835, a mutantaroA gene obtained under ATCC accession number 39256 and described inU.S. Pat. No. 4,769,061, glutamine synthetase genes described in EPApplication No. 0333033 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,975,374, aphosphinothricin-acetyltransferase gene described in EP Application No.0242246 and DeGreef et al., Bio/Technology 7:61 (1989), wherein thecontent of each is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.Exemplary of genes conferring resistance to phenoxy propionic acids andcycloshexones, such as sethoxydim and haloxyfop are the Acc1-S1, Acc1-S2and Acc1-S3 genes described by Marshall et al., Theor. Appl. Genet.83:435 (1992), the content of which is incorporated by reference hereinin its entirety.

In various other aspects, the agronomic gene may include at least onegene that confers or contributes to a value-added trait. In an aspect,the agronomic gene may include a gene that modifies fatty acidmetabolism, including, but not limited to, an antisense gene ofstearyl-ACP desaturase to increase stearic acid content of the plant, asdescribed in Knultzon et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 89:2624(1992) the content of which is incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety. In an aspect, the agronomic gene may include genes regulatingphytate content, including a phytase-encoding gene configured to enhancebreakdown of phytate, adding more free phosphate to the transformedplant, as described in Van Hartingsveldt et al., Gene 127:87 (1993), ora gene configured to reduce phytate content as described in Raboy etal., Maydica 35:383 (1990), wherein the content of each is incorporatedby reference herein in its entirety. In an aspect, the agronomic genemay include a gene for modifying carbohydrate composition including, butnot limited to, an enzyme that alters the branching pattern of starch asdescribed in Shiroza et al., J. Bacteol. 170:810 (1988), Steinmetz etal., Mol. Gen. Genet. 20:220 (1985), Pen et al., Bio/Technology 10:292(1992), Elliot et al., Plant Molec. Biol. 21:515 (1993), Søgaard et al.,J. Biol. Chem. 268:22480 (1993), and Fisher et al., Plant Physiol.102:1045 (1993), wherein the content of each is incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

Any method for transforming the corn plants known in the art may be usedto introduce one or more of the genes described above withoutlimitation. Numerous methods for plant transformation have beendeveloped, including biological and physical, plant transformationprotocols. In an aspect, the corn plants may be transformed using themethod described in Miki et al., Methods in Plant Molecular Biology andBiotechnology, Glick B. R. and Thompson, J. E. Eds. (CRC Press, Inc.,Boca Raton, 1993) pages 67-88. In addition, expression vectors and invitro culture methods for plant cell or tissue transformation andregeneration of plants may be used, as described in Gruber et al.,“Vectors for Plant Transformation” in Methods in Plant Molecular Biologyand Biotechnology, Glick B. R. and Thompson, J. E. Eds. (CRC Press,Inc., Boca Raton, 1993) pages 89-119, wherein the content of each isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

In an aspect, a method for introducing an expression vector into plantsis based on the natural transformation system of Agrobacterium asdescribed, by way of non-limiting example, in Horsch et al., Science227:1229 (1985), the content of which is incorporated by referenceherein in its entirety. In this aspect, Ti and Ri plasmids of A.tumefaciens and A. rhizogenes, respectively, carry genes responsible forgenetic transformation of the plant, as described, by way ofnon-limiting example, in Kado, C. I., Crit. Rev. Plant Sci. 10:1(1991)), the content of which is incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety. Descriptions of Agrobacterium vector systems and methods forAgrobacterium-mediated gene transfer are described, by way ofnon-limiting example, in Moloney et al., Plant Cell Reports 8:238(1989), and U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,616, wherein the content of each isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

In another aspect, a method for introducing an expression vector intoplants is based on direct gene transfer methods. Despite the fact thehost range for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation is broad, somemajor cereal crop species and gymnosperms have generally beenrecalcitrant to this mode of gene transfer, even though some success hasrecently been achieved in rice and corn. Several methods of planttransformation, collectively referred to as direct gene transfer, havebeen developed as an alternative to Agrobacterium-mediatedtransformation.

In one aspect. a generally applicable method of plant transformation ismicroprojectile-mediated transformation, in which DNA is carried on thesurface of microprojectiles measuring 1 to 4 μm. The expression vectoris introduced into plant tissues with a biolistic device thataccelerates the microprojectiles to speeds of 300 to 600 m/s which issufficient to penetrate plant cell walls and membranes. Non-limitingexamples of microprojectile-mediated transformation methods aredescribed in Sanford et al., Part. Sci. Technol. 5:27 (1987), Sanford,J. C., Trends Biotech. 6:299 (1988), Klein et al., Bio/Technology6:559-563 (1988), Sanford, J. C., Physiol Plant 7:206 (1990), and Kleinet al., Biotechnology 10:268 (1992), wherein the content of each isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety. In corn, severaltarget tissues can be bombarded with DNA-coated microprojectiles inorder to produce transgenic plants, including, for example, callus (TypeI or Type II), immature embryos, and meristematic tissue, in variousaspects. Another method for physical delivery of DNA to plants issonication of target cells as described in Zhang et al., Bio/Technology9:996 (1991), the content of which is incorporated by reference hereinin its entirety. Alternatively, liposome or spheroplast fusion may beused to introduce expression vectors into plants as described inDeshayes et al., EMBO J., 4:2731 (1985) and Christou et al., Proc Natl.Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 84:3962 (1987), wherein the content of each isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Direct uptake of DNAinto protoplasts using CaCl₂ precipitation, polyvinyl alcohol orpoly-L-omithine may be used to introduce expression vectors into plantsas described in Hain et al., Mol. Gen. Genet. 199:161 (1985) and Draperet al., Plant Cell Physiol. 23:451 (1982), wherein the content of eachis incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. In variousadditional aspects, electroporation of protoplasts and whole cells andtissues may be used to introduce expression vectors into plants asdescribed in Donn et al., In Abstracts of VIIth International Congresson Plant Cell and Tissue Culture IAPTC, A2-38, p 53 (1990), D'Halluin etal., Plant Cell 4:1495-1505 (1992), and Spencer et al., Plant Mol. Biol.24:51-61 (1994), wherein the content of each is incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

Following transformation of corn target tissues, expression of theabove-described selectable marker genes may be used for preferentialselection of transformed cells, tissues and/or plants, usingregeneration and selection methods well known in the art.

In various additional aspects, the foregoing methods for transformationmay be used to produce a transgenic inbred line. This transgenic inbredline may then be crossed, with another (non-transformed or transformed)inbred line, in order to produce a new transgenic inbred line.Alternatively, a genetic trait which has been engineered into aparticular corn line using the foregoing transformation techniques couldbe moved into another line using traditional backcrossing techniquesthat are well known in the plant breeding arts. For example, abackcrossing approach could be used to move an engineered trait from apublic, non-elite inbred line into an elite inbred line, or from aninbred line containing a foreign gene in its genome into an inbred lineor lines which do not contain that gene. As used herein, “crossing” canrefer to a simple X by Y cross, or the process of backcrossing,depending on the context.

“Inbred corn plant”, as used herein, may include any single geneconversions of that inbred. The term single gene converted plant as usedherein, refers to those corn plants developed by backcrossing asdescribed herein, wherein essentially all of the desired morphologicaland physiological characteristics of an inbred are recovered in additionto the single gene transferred into the inbred via the backcrossingtechnique. Backcrossing methods can be used with the present disclosureto improve or introduce a characteristic into the inbred. The termbackcrossing as used herein refers to the repeated crossing of a hybridprogeny back to one of the parental corn plants for that inbred. Theparental corn plant which contributes the gene for the desiredcharacteristic is termed the nonrecurrent or donor parent. Thisterminology refers to the fact that the nonrecurrent parent is used onetime in the backcross protocol and therefore does not recur. Theparental corn plant to which the gene or genes from the nonrecurrentparent are transferred is known as the recurrent parent as it is usedfor several rounds in the backcrossing protocol. In a typical backcrossprotocol, the original inbred of interest (recurrent parent) is crossedto a second inbred (nonrecurrent parent) that carries the single gene ofinterest to be transferred. The resulting progeny from this cross arethen crossed again to the recurrent parent and the process is repeateduntil a corn plant is obtained wherein essentially all of the desiredmorphological and physiological characteristics of the recurrent parentare recovered in the converted plant, in addition to the singletransferred gene from the nonrecurrent parent.

The selection of a suitable recurrent parent is an important step for asuccessful backcrossing procedure. The goal of a backcross protocol isto alter or substitute a single trait or characteristic in the originalinbred. To accomplish this, a single gene of the recurrent inbred ismodified or substituted with the desired gene from the nonrecurrentparent, while retaining essentially all of the rest of the desiredgenetic, and therefore the desired physiological and morphological,constitution of the original inbred. The choice of the particularnonrecurrent parent will depend on the purpose of the backcross, one ofthe major purposes is to add some commercially desirable, agronomicallyimportant trait to the plant. The exact backcrossing protocol willdepend on the characteristic or trait being altered to determine anappropriate testing protocol. Although backcrossing methods aresimplified when the characteristic being transferred is a dominantallele, a recessive allele may also be transferred. In this instance itmay be necessary to introduce a test of the progeny to determine if thedesired characteristic has been successfully transferred.

Many single gene traits have been identified that are not regularlyselected for in the development of a new inbred but that can be improvedby backcrossing techniques. Single gene traits may or may not betransgenic, examples of these traits include but are not limited to,male sterility, waxy starch, herbicide resistance, resistance forbacterial, fungal, or viral disease, insect resistance, male fertility,enhanced nutritional quality, industrial usage, yield stability andyield enhancement. These genes are generally inherited through thenucleus. Some known exceptions to this are the genes for male sterility,some of which are inherited cytoplasmically, but still act as singlegene traits. Several of these single gene traits are described in U.S.Pat. Nos. 5,777,196; 5,948,957 and 5,969,212, the disclosures of whichare specifically hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. A seed of a corn inbred line designated MDS2713,representative seeds of the line having been deposited under ATCCAccession No. PTA-127082.
 2. A corn plant, or a part thereof, producedby growing the seed of claim
 1. 3. The corn plant, or a part thereof, ofclaim 2, wherein the part is selected from the group consisting ofpollen, an ovule, a tissue culture of regenerable cells or protoplasts,or any combination thereof.
 4. A corn plant, or a part thereof, havingall of the physiological and morphological characteristics of the cornplant of claim
 2. 5. A tissue culture of cells produced from the plantor a part thereof of claim 3, wherein the regenerable cells orprotoplasts of the tissue culture are isolated from a tissue selectedfrom the group consisting of meristemic cells, leaves, pollen, embryos,immature embryos, immature tassels, microspores, roots, root tips,anthers, silks, flowers, kernels, ears, cobs, husks, and stalks.
 6. Acorn plant regenerated from the tissue culture of claim 5, wherein theregenerated plant is capable of expressing all the morphological andphysiological characteristics of inbred line MDS2713, representativeseeds of the line having been deposited under ATCC Accession No.PTA-127082.
 7. The corn plant, or a part thereof, of claim 4, whereinthe corn plant is produced by a tissue culture process using the cornplant of inbred line designated MDS2713 as a starting material,representative seeds of the line having been deposited under ATCCAccession No. PTA-127082.
 8. A method of producing a hybrid corn seed,the method comprising: (a) planting, in pollinating proximity, seeds ofcorn inbred lines MDS2713, representative seeds of the line having beendeposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-127082, and another corn inbredline; (b) inducing a lack of pollen production by plants of one of thecorn inbred lines; (c) allowing natural cross-pollinating to occurbetween the plants of the corn inbred lines; and (d) harvesting thehybrid corn seed produced on cross-pollinated plants of the corn inbredlines.
 9. An F1 hybrid corn seed produced by the method of claim
 8. 10.A hybrid corn seed produced by a hybrid combination of plants of thecorn inbred line designated MDS2713 of claim 1 and plants of anothercorn inbred line.
 11. A hybrid corn plant grown from the hybrid cornseed of claim
 10. 12. A tissue culture of the regenerable cells of thehybrid plant of claim
 11. 13. A method for producing an herbicideresistant, insect resistant, or disease resistant corn plant comprisingtransforming the corn plant of claim 2 with a transgene that confersherbicide resistance, insect resistance, or disease resistance.
 14. Anherbicide resistant, insect resistant, or disease resistant corn plantproduced by the method of claim
 13. 15. A method of producing a cornplant with decreased phytate content, modified fatty acid metabolism,modified carbohydrate metabolism, and any combination thereof,comprising transforming the corn plant of claim 2 with one or moretransgene encoding phytase, stearyl-ACP desaturase,fructosyltransferase, levansucrase, alpha-amylase, invertase, or starchbranching enzyme.
 16. A corn plant with decreased phytate content,modified fatty acid metabolism, modified carbohydrate metabolism, or anycombination thereof, produced by the method of claim
 15. 17. A method ofproducing a male-sterile corn plant comprising transforming the cornplant of claim 2 with a transgene that confers male sterility.
 18. Amale-sterile corn plant produced by the method of claim 17.